66 faith only, without the deeds of the law; ❝and when obtained, never lost." Saint Paul, of whose justification there can be no doubt, spake a different language. "If by any means I might attain to the re"surrection of the dead: not as though I “had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may "attain that for which I also am appre"hended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I "count not myself to have apprehended"." These expressions will be applied by every man who considers that he is to "render "an account to God," and to "receive 66 according to his works"." On this retribution the Calvinistic writers do not seem to insist. In the statements of some of them, the principal purpose of the final judgment is not so much to separate the righteous from the wicked, as to "fix the degree of our blessedness in eternity," and "the measure of our everlasting reward P," and to evidence the sincerity of faith 9. 1 Vaughan's Account, p. 308. n Rom. xiv. 12. 2 Cor. v. 10. P Simeon, p. 76. q Scott. K m Philip. iii. 11-13. • Overton, p. 293. V." All Calvinists hold that the re"demption of Christ is sufficient for all, "but effectual only to the elect';" and "the doctrine of general redemption is "held by most of the Calvinists in the "Established Chuens;" and of the Dissenters also a principal writer judged it right to maintain, that the sacrifice for "sin is adequately sufficient for every per"son in the world, and is mercifully pro"posed as such to be received on the terms "of faith and repentance, without any re"probating decree to the contrary." 1. The predestination which this writer imputes to the modern Calvinists is this": "That all mankind are in a state of guilt "and sinful imbecility; that God foresaw s Ibid. vol. ii. p. 165. 197. Scott, vol. ii. p. 372. 331. Mr. Vaughan labours to support the contrary doctrine. It is one of his principal propositions: "We "have here the entire ruin of the whole human race "asserted to have taken place in Adam; the recovery "of a part only of that ruined race in Christ." Letter, p. 63. + Williams, p. 384. 382. 182. 189. Compare Vaughan's Account, p. 305, 306. where he is recording the sentiments of Mr. Robinson. Williams, p. 202. "this from eternity; that he therefore pre"destinated an adequate remedy in the "sacrifice of Christ; that this should be "announced to men as commensurate* to "the evil." They "further maintain, that "there was not in the present state of man "any adequate ground of certainty, that any one, without preventing gracious in fluence, would avail himself of the proposed remedy, and therefore that God "predestinated, under the direction of in"finite wisdom, to influence the hearts of "some, i. e. those who are finally glorified, "to repent, believe, obey, and persevere "in a holy course, as the way to everlast"ing happiness."... They "hold no pre"destination which separates the end and "the means." They do not presume "to conjecture a priori who are predesti"nated to eternal life; but they infer x Williams, p. 197. y Compare Williams, p. 221.' 239. 272. 358. 477. Scott, vol. ii. 73. 78. 146. 153. 158. 411. z Compare Williams, p. 243. 248. 294. 473. 525. a" Calvinists do not hold, that all who think them"selves, or are thought by others... the elect of God "... will necessarily be saved; but only that all whom 66 "from the imbecility of man, that if any "one is penitent, faithful, diligent, persevering, and finally glorified, these great "effects are from the special and distinguishing energy of God, and that what"ever he does in time he purposed to do " from eternity." 66 66 This predestination it is alleged "is infinitely worthy of the divine character " and perfections";" and in it, they say, "it "is difficult to find even the semblance of infringement of either justice or good"ness." From this Calvinistic election it is also considered erroneous to infer "a а degree of reprobation, preterition, or "non-election," because "non-election is " a negative idea, not electing," and not a positive idea, which would require "a po "God, who searches the heart, knows to be true be"lievers. His decrees are wholly unknown to man, "until manifested by the event." Scott, vol. ii. p. 55. 89. 378. 478. 670. b Compare Williams, p. 208. 244. 282, 283. c Williams, p. 222. 277.500. 503. Scott, vol. ii. p. d Ibid. p. 203. e Ibid. p. 204. 220. 269, 270. 478. Robinson, as reported by Vaughan, Account, p. 306. Overton, p. 96. Scott, vol. ii. p. 154-158. "sitive determination by way of decree1. "The truth of the case is, that on suppo❝sition of one million being elected to ho"liness as the means, and happiness as the 66 end, the other million is not elected to "holiness and happiness." To this hypothetical conclusion we cordially assent: if one million is elected, the other million is not elected; and such is the whole Calvinistic scheme, that those who are not elected are exposed to all the consequences which would result from the most formal and positive decree of reprobation. 2. This is admitted by another Calvinistic writer, who presents a very different view of the doctrine of Predestination; and the f "We suppose therefore that the divine decree is 66 positive in respect of the elect, 'to deliver from curse "and damnation,'" &c. Art. 17. "But that the pur 66 pose of God is negative as to others; that is, he pro"poses to leave them to themselves, and to do nothing "to deliver them from the punishment which their sins "deserve, or from the consequence of their depraved "hearts and rebellious conduct." Scott, vol. ii. p. 122, 123. 247. 314. 410. 455. 605. 620. 653, 654, |